NBA Best of the Week: Week 1—Chris Paul Is On Another Plane

Warning: Small sample sizes ahead. Of course, when all there is to work with is one week’s worth of NBA games, the sample sizes are going to be small. It’s called mathematics, people. One can only work with what one has.

This is the season debut of the NBA’s Best of the Week at HoopsHabit and its undergone a bit of a format change in the offseason. The medal theme (gold, silver, bronze) worked nicely on the heels of the 2012 Olympics in London, but that is so last year.

The theme will remain the same for most of the imaginary honors being handed out (three players recognized and so on), but we’re going to have a little bit of fun with it this year … i.e., the weekly theme will be just that—weekly. Completely on a whim. Why? Because that’s simply the manner by which I do, in fact, roll.

Best of the Week—Players

Superman: Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

Chris Paul became the charter member of the 40 points-15 assists-five steals club. (NBA.com photo)

Chris Paul seems to be on a bit of a mission. He’s led the Clips to a 3-1 record early, averaging 26.5 points, 13.3 assists and 3.3 steals per game while shooting 51.7 percent from the floor. Of course, he’s not perfect—dude even missed a free throw last week. As in, a free throw. Singular. He was 38-for-39 from the line (97.4 percent) and has more steals (13) than turnovers (12). (Ridiculously small sample size alert) His advanced metrics are off the charts, as in a player efficiency rating of 41.27 (average is 15, remember) and an estimated wins added value of 2.2. In three wins. So, yeah, he’s been OK so far.

Just for fun, it’s worth pointing out that Chris Paul had 42 points, 15 assists and six steals in the Clippers win over the Golden State Warriors on Friday night. So how many members are there in the 40-15-5 club in NBA history? You’re looking at him.

Batman: Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans

Anthony Davis is off to a flying start as a Pelican. (NBA.com photo)

And we have an early candidate for breakout performer of the year. The newly minted Pelicans are off to a 1-2 start, but it’s tough to blame Davis for that. He’s averaging 23.7 points, 12.3 rebounds, four blocks and 2.7 steals a game. He already has two double-doubles, including a 26-point, 17-rebound night in a loss at Orlando on Friday and he blocked six shots in New Orleans’ win over Charlotte on Saturday.

Spider-Man: Carlos Boozer, Chicago Bulls

Carlos Boozer is shooting 65.9 percent so far. (NBA.com photo)

The guy everyone wants to amnesty makes the list because he’s been the most efficient Bull so far. It’s safe to say he might be the only efficient Bull so far. Boozer is shooting 65.9 percent so far (27-for-41) while averaging 22.3 points and eight boards a game. He had 31 on opening night, when Chicago got smacked around by the defending champion Heat on ring night and went for 22 points and 10 boards in a loss at Philadelphia on Saturday.

Best of the Week—Rookies

Wolverine: Michael Carter-Williams, Philadelphia 76ers

Michael Carter-Williams is playing like a star. (NBA.com photo)

Yes, the 76ers came crashing back to earth Monday night when the Golden State Warriors smacked them around really, really hard, but even in the loss, Carter-Williams had 18 points, six rebounds and four assists. In four games, MCW is averaging 20 points, 7.8 assists, five boards and 3.3 steals a game and he’s even 9-for-24 from deep (37.5 percent), an area he was expected to, well, really suck at. His debut against the Heat was historic—22 points, 12 assists, nine steals, seven rebounds.

Captain America: Vitor Faverani, Boston Celtics

Boston’s Brazilian big is getting it done. (NBA.com photo)

Oh, the irony. Yes, the big Brazilian is Captain America. The Celtics might be 0-4, but Faverani is shooting 56 percent and averaging 9.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game, including 12 points, 18 rebounds and six blocks in the should-have-won-but-found-a-way-to-make-it-a-loss against Milwaukee on Friday.

Green Lantern: Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic

Victor Oladipo is learning on the fly. (NBA.com photo)

The No. 2 overall pick is averaging 13.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and four assists through four games and the Magic are a surprising 2-2 so far. The rookie from Indiana had 19 points, six boards and four assists in just 21 minutes when Orlando smacked the Brooklyn Nets Sunday night—although he did have seven turnovers.  It’s a learning curve for a shooting guard being asked to run the point right out of the chute.

The Avengers (Team of the Week): Golden State Warriors

Yes, the Warriors stubbed their toe in Los Angeles when they lost to the Clippers on Thursday night, but they have been mind-bogglingly good in their other three wins—all by 11 or more points and none of them that close. In four games, the Warriors have already had three players score at least 30 points in a game:

had 38 against the Lakers on opening night,

had 38 in the loss to the Clippers and

torched the 76ers for 32 on Monday—including seven 3-pointers. Andre Iguodala made seven 3s in a game. Sign of the apocalypse? I might buy some extra bottled water, just to be safe.

The Battle For New York (Game of the Week): Brooklyn Nets 101, Miami Heat 100

The new-look Nets ended a 13-game losing streak to the Heat on Friday night, holding off the two-time defending champs and handing Miami back-to-back losses for the first time since January.

Brooklyn led by 11 heading into the fourth quarter, but the Heat made a run in the final couple of minutes. Miami ran off 10 straight points and consecutive 3-balls from Dwyane Wade and Mario Chalmers got the Heat to within two at 96-94 with 18 seconds to go.

(insert delay of game warning here)

LeBron James made it 99-98 Brooklyn with a corner 3 with 4.7 seconds left, but the comeback was derailed when Chris Bosh couldn’t miss the second of two free throws—yes, he made it when trying to miss—and Brooklyn had a signature win. Of course, it’s also the Nets’ only win so far.

“And Then That Guy Did This Thing!” (Plays of the Week)

No preamble. Just my three favorite plays from the last week. Enjoy.

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